I always start my day with a short read from Word for Today, sometimes I find answers to yesterdays questions. For people like myself, not the brightest spark, it puts into context some of the meanings in the Bible into modern day language, which enables me to a greater understanding. Todays reading is about "Great is thy Faithfulness" Here's part of it, just thought I would share it with you guys, out of respect for for your services.
Just saw this and thanks John Boy. There is something different about Marines. I've never been able to completely understand it - but they and ex-Marines are different. Their whole outlook on the world and their interaction with it - is different. Not saying it is better or worse, but it is discerning - and it cuts thru the BS. My experience, and likely the same today (my Officer son retired a couple years ago) - they do look out for each other. No other force on the planet that I know of is so well connected with their history and present.
Nice of you Garbonzo But it's me who should thank you and all those who have served in the the name of peace and justice against the aggression the world has known. No greater love has any man than to lay down his life for that of a friend, family or country. May their sacrifice and that of those who survived the terrors of war be never forgotten. The freedom to speak out against injustice in any form should never be silenced I continue to pray for peace in this world.
First let me say there is no such thing as an ex-marine. The title Marine is earned upon graduation of boot camp and never lost. The history of the corps is drilled into you. I can still tell you the first Marine Aviator was AA Cunningham for example. In my mind one of the reasons Marines are the way they are is due to the size of the Corps especially in relation to their mission. In my unit there were about 50 of us. When we went to Desert Storm we were in the middle of no where with the nearest friendly troops many miles away. We depend on each other because our lives depended upon it. We trained and worked hard to become the best we could be. This may be true of all branches of service however the pride is not quite drilled into you. Espirit De Corps is one of the 11 leadership traits expected of any Marine. And as far as it never leaving you, the last line of the Marine Corps hymn says it best:If the Army and the Navy ever look on Heaven's scene, they will see the streets are guarded by United States Marines.
Ha, these days 95% of all produced clogs (klompen) in the Netherlands are sold to tourists as souvenirs. Interestingly, the three x's on many of the clog designs (also on the ones you posted) signify the City of Amsterdam coat of arms, while obviously clogs used to be worn by farmers and fishermen, not by city dwellers.